Timeless Angkor
At 6am we were in our tuk-tuk on our way to Angkor Wat (again). Incredibly steep steps connect you with the upper levels of this square wedding cake design temple. Angkor Wat is said to be the world's largest single religious monument. It is the most famous of all the temples, cities and other ruins found within the Angkor Archaeological Park which stretched over 400 square Kilometres. This protected area contains the remains of over 1000 different temples - all products of the Khmer Empire dating between the 9th and 15th Century AD.
The day was beautiful and we moved on to the Angkor Tom temple grounds which are huge. One can break away from the Japanese crowds and explore. We discovered one or two tree-reclaimed temples of our own - amazing structures hidden in the far reaches of the grounds. One just can't get over all the incredible carvings - their detail and their sheer numbers. We also went to the famous Tomb raider set - the Ta Prohm - well photographed due to its fame and very photogenic jungle trees which slowly grow all over the temple stones. While there are many carvings here they are fewer and less fine than the temples we had been to previously. No carvings, however, compared to those we found in Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women) a more than 1000 year old temple quite a few kilometres on, but so worth the distance. The carvings are so fine and intricate one can't help wishing for a glimpse of what this place looked like in its prime.
Our Red Piano supper was superb, once again. We chatted about the following day's plans of solo exploration and Janine was quite annoyed that, considering the distance and the heat, foreigners were not allowed to hire motorbikes. She remembered seeing an electric bicycle for the first time when we were in Cuba. She wished we had an option like that now. We could not believe it when, outside our internet spot, we found electric bikes to hire. Janine was thrilled, Johan was weary, but off we sailed home on our hired steeds (about US$4 per day) and tucked them safely away next to our hotel for tomorrow's explorations…
Culture shock: Foreigners may not rent motorbikes in Siem Reap and surrounds
The day was beautiful and we moved on to the Angkor Tom temple grounds which are huge. One can break away from the Japanese crowds and explore. We discovered one or two tree-reclaimed temples of our own - amazing structures hidden in the far reaches of the grounds. One just can't get over all the incredible carvings - their detail and their sheer numbers. We also went to the famous Tomb raider set - the Ta Prohm - well photographed due to its fame and very photogenic jungle trees which slowly grow all over the temple stones. While there are many carvings here they are fewer and less fine than the temples we had been to previously. No carvings, however, compared to those we found in Banteay Srei (Citadel of Women) a more than 1000 year old temple quite a few kilometres on, but so worth the distance. The carvings are so fine and intricate one can't help wishing for a glimpse of what this place looked like in its prime.
Our Red Piano supper was superb, once again. We chatted about the following day's plans of solo exploration and Janine was quite annoyed that, considering the distance and the heat, foreigners were not allowed to hire motorbikes. She remembered seeing an electric bicycle for the first time when we were in Cuba. She wished we had an option like that now. We could not believe it when, outside our internet spot, we found electric bikes to hire. Janine was thrilled, Johan was weary, but off we sailed home on our hired steeds (about US$4 per day) and tucked them safely away next to our hotel for tomorrow's explorations…
Culture shock: Foreigners may not rent motorbikes in Siem Reap and surrounds
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